Hot Rods 1932 Ford pickup - 6'4" driver - how to advice?

How do you get the most possible leg room in a 32 pickup?

 

Make the seat back as thin and flat as possible. About the only way to make leg room. A 33/34 firewall gives more leg room as its punched outward for a touch more leg room. Usually if your over 6ft in one of these cabs its not comfortable, especially its chopped and/or channeled.

 

RPU

 

This is sincere advice – if you're 6'4", don't buy any 1930s or early 40s pickup. If you want a 30s vehicle, consider a sedan. If you want a truck, in 1948, Ford and GM trucks started to get bigger.

Extended cabs seldom look right IMHO.

 

Gurney Bubble.

 

I'm 6'2" and I barely fit , but I did drive my 32 over 200,000 miles in30 years. So you can do it.

 

I'm on my 5th deuce pickup. First 4 were chopped from 2.5 to 4 inches. I always used the gas tank for a seat riser with a thin back and about a 4 inch bottom. First 2 were built with 33 cabs so had a little extra room because of the firewall. My 4th one had swing pedals which helped with the foot room. I didn't build my current pickup but when Howard built the seat he had me in mind. This cab is full height with an automatic trans plus a column shift so my right leg isn't fighting the shift lever. I've driven the current pickup on several 300+ mile trips with no problems. It's buggy springs F&R and rides good. When I built my first pickup I was 74 inches tall and the other day when I went to the doctor it was a stretch to get to 72. Shrinking in my old age. Oh yea weight about 235 depending on the day.

 

Speedway motors used to sell a fiberglass 32-34-ish Ford pickup body that was an extended cab. They even offered a full kit for the vehicle with frame, fenders and a shortened bed to match the cab's extension. Unfortunately I don't think they sell them anymore. But perhaps if you contact them they might refer you to the people who made the bodies for them. Otherwise, get a second cab and stretch the first one with the extra doors, floor pans, etc..

The reason I mention this is that I was lucky enough to sit in one of those Speedway extended cab trucks once and it was positively CAVERNOUS compared to an OEM cab. Perhaps you can find one for sale already built?

 

I'm 6'2", 200 pounds and I have long thighs. I do not fit in early pickups. The only way I would consider one is if I extended the cab....and that's hard to do and have it look right. Also, the seating position is very upright and just not very comfortable to me. Folks were a lot smaller back in those days. Early pickups are cool but they are not for me.

 

I built 2 of the Speedway 34 Club Cab pickups for Speedway plus several package trucks for customers. Speedway made their own cabs in Lincoln.

 

Give & take , Your unable to change your height naturally,
& want /like
A s - 34 cab , extend feet pocket of the firewall , there ways to make looking stock , & swing pedals, or extend floor paddles forward , sacrifice the engine combo
Add a modern 4 cylinder carb it ,
Adapt to whatever Transmission you want , even if no one makes an adapter kit for that combo,
it can be accomplished ,
On average Stockage modern make
300 hp , think out side box to trigger the
Spark plugs , or MSD for coil packs
(distributors-less )
Or Older 4 cylinders with speed parts

 

At 6'2" drove my '34 Ford PU many miles back in the 80's (40 years old)
Then later 2015-2021 drove the '34 Dodge PU quite regularly..but..many fewer miles (70+ years old)
Always enjoyed the pickups...but age is a factor...
no chops no channels
good luck and enjoy

 

I'll try to dig some pics up of a full fendered 32 pickup that was extended in the middle of the doors a friend or mine built. It's still in bare metal mock up stage. It was very suttle!

*edit, here ya go. Stretched 4" and chopped 3"

 

Quite a few threads on this subject.
Check out my responses on the attached post.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...to-1934-pickups-vs-1928-to-1932-cars.1260430/

 

Where did the 3" go? Shorten the bed?

 

looks like the frame was also stretched in the middle based on the lower pic with running boards and that the front of the box to rear fender stayed the same.

 

Yep, now that you mention it I can't stop looking at it.

 

Automatic transmission make it a little easier.

 

@HOTRODPRIMER

 

Both pics are of same truck not a "before and after" its been a few years ago but from what I remember the frame wasn't stretched, the bed was shortened. Unfortunately I can't find anymore pics of it, the pickup is still unfinished sitting at a different person's shop for the past 4 years.

 

Looking at it more, I think its a 32 Box on a 33/34 Ford frame, but the box has not been modified as it would need to be shortened in the front. The 32 box has a shorter "gap" between the back of the cab and then the rear fender vs a 33/34 pickup. I also dont see the lip of the 32 frame beauty mark.

32 Pickup:


33/34 Pickup:

The 33/34 truck is my 33 pickup, the tail end of the box has been shortened but the front half it stock.

 

My 2 cents.....extend the cowl. Check out Steadfast Mfg, easier than extending the cab.

 

I'm just gonna say this really quick and then run away with my tail between my legs. Not everyone will approve.
V6 engine and an extended firewall................. (If you supercharge the V6 it won't seem so bad.)
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/v-6-power-moves-model-pickup/

 

Hello,

During the recovery stage, even in the hospital stay for my brother, we talked about the “next level.” It was a touchy subject as we knew where our parents stood as to our involvement in drag racing. But, we were both good students, college was upon us in a few years and our parents liked that their sons did something together. So, when they came to visit, our topics went to something else, like surfing, etc.

But, when we were together, we talked about what the parts in the backyard garage were doing… well, nothing except staying clean under a large canvas tarp. It was covered in case our mom went in that small garage. So, if she did or our dad went to his fishing cabinet, everything was pushed over to the far reaches of the backyard garage and covered up.

We knew how our mom would react and so, everything was covered up. Even the tools and shelves had white sheets draped down to cover up what was on the shelves. My brother said to keep things covered until we both decided what to do next in our passion for hot rods and drag racing. When our mom was out shopping, I would go out to the backyard garage and check out the covered 671 SBC motor and the other parts. It gave me the shivers and yet, it was good to think of the next level at another build. A sense of accomplishment drove me to think of something else we could build and use.

The first idea was a roadster pickup to keep within a nice body and old hot rod look, not a newer Chevy or Ford full fender truck. So, we kept looking for a good start in the RPU arena. But the few Model A coupes we sat in, including our own early coupe we bought in 1957 gave us a tight fitting seating arrangement for two growing teenage boys. That was stock seating and we still needed more room. No one at the time was lengthening the overall body, doors or roof lines. They just modified the pedals and seats pushed back as far as possible.

Our modifications to the 40 willys coupe, was to move the two small adjustable bucket seats as far back as possible. I was close to 6 feet, but not over, while my brother was around 5’9” tall. But, when we both sat in our old model a coupe, we knew we had to do something to make driving it more comfortable. So, with small bucket seats, it gave us more room, but yet it was not going to be a 1000 mile hot rod vacation drive sitting in those cramped quarters.

Jnaki

As we were talking, the next level may be a roadster or coupe with a modified chassis and using the motor, would not be in a street class. Perhaps an altered roadster/coupe/sedan class. That was my brother’s choice as he always wanted to drive an FED, but this was a good way to get a different look and feel of an all out competition race car. But, since it would then be a single seat car, it was for one of us and not used by both.

so, we began to think about expanding our business to increase our income and hot rod or outright competition motor assembly line. People were amazed that our second engine, the highly modified blower spec SBC motor was increased to 292 from a 283 c.i. then all blower spec parts were used to complete the motor, before the new Isky-Gilmer Belt Drive was to be installed. A new Reath balanced crank, ported polished heads and a new Howard 5 cycle cam and kit were part of the package, along with a new Joe Hunt Vertex Magneto.

The motor was sitting in our garage corner and was waiting for our choice of the next hot rod car or truck for our business. I could see my brother’s attempt to stay involved in drag racing, but it seemed like he wanted to build cars instead of drag racing. I could understand that train of thought. So, we looked at some trucks from Model A versions to 34 Ford versions as we liked those the most.

These days, people lengthen the doors, the cab and if done right, the look of the truck is not harmed and the overall design is pleasing. My brother agreed and we talked about it each time we visited each other.

Note:

The whole idea is to get more room for comfortable driving. An extended cab certainly would solve the overall dimensions and give plenty of room. But, from an outside prospective at the extended cab, it does not stay within the original Model A truck cab style. A “big” extension would make the “butt end” too big and out of proportion.

The larger, better proportions in design...

The version on the left is relatively stock, but it does need something. So, a short top chop and shortened bed still keeps the proportion, yet it makes the Model A truck look stock appearing. Only those totally inspecting the mods would criticize the larger door and shortened bed. But a longer bed looks too lengthy and hangs over too much. Room for the slight enlargement has to come from somewhere, so the bed gets shortened and the cab technically, moves back a few inches with a wider door and top.

The idea came from a different truck modification that I saw being done for a huge guy, around 6’6” and he did not fit in the stock cab. So, the builders extended the doors and lengthened the cab roof just a tad to give the space necessary for a comfortable driving position. The plus/loss came from the shortened bed. The other option was to modify the pedal position to move it farther into the motor compartment if there is room. Most of the time there is no more room, so the only way to go is back to toward the bed.

I got an inspiration many drawings ago. An open roadster with anyone’s longer legs might be a challenge. Most roadsters were a little cramped as the generations grew. Even back in 1960, my brother and I had thoughts of a Model A roadster pick up for another project, but realized two brothers would not fit without altering/extending the seating area back into the shortened bed.

We were both large for our age and I grew to almost 6’1” and I needed comfort for short or long distance driving. For us, it was a project we liked, but things just moved on in a different direction. The shortened bed was still big enough to haul parts and motors, if needed. Drawing is much easier to see the changes necessary.

Also, sitting in an open roadster with big shoulders and height might be a challenge. Most roadsters were a little cramped as the generations grew in our society. A single driver might be ok, but a little cramped if one is 6 feet or over. So, the only way to get comfortable for the bigger folks is to extend the cab. The bed will be the item that gets shortened to keep the proportions right.

There is only so much room modifying the seats and pedals without compromising driving comfort. Extended arm driving versus cramped bent elbows and the steering wheel intruding on comfort, is no one’s idea of cool cruising. Or safety for that matter… Here is an orange Model A drawing I have been tossing around for ideas. For some reason, I added a cab top, then an RPU top and it looked awful, so it had to stay extended cab open roadster style for the RPU.

There is even a nicely finished, red Model A RPU, extended, here on the HAMB built for more room in the cab… check it out...YRMV
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/28-rpu-build-thread-it-will-be-red.703537/

@Never2old

 

Take a look at the 32 Pickup Steadfast Mfg. has for sale on Opposing Cylinders. Claims it's been stretched?

 

@HOTRODPRIMER Danny may be able to help answer that question!

 

I moved the firewall forward 6-inches on my pickup.

 

The internet says you get shorter as you age. You should fit in around 2099

 

I'm 6'4" tall and I fit in my '32 pickup, I suggest no chop and position your seat low and as thinly padded as you can with the back of the seat.

I removed the gas tank and used a '32 passenger car gas tank out back, I formed a much shorter riser for the seat than the gas tank it replaced, I had room for the battery,wiring and the heat & air unit under the seat.

I made the seat from plywood and foam and gave it a conture, I kept the foam thin on the seat back.

To be totally honest I was comfortable for a hour or so but there is very little leg room, I would stop and get out a stretch for a few minutes and be good to go for another hour or so.

I also opted for a automatic transmission, again maximizing leg room. HRP